Greenland has reemerged at the center of global geopolitics after President Donald Trump renewed assertions that the United States needs control of the Arctic island for national security. His remarks, delivered days after a dramatic US military operation in Venezuela, have unsettled European allies and raised fundamental questions about Arctic defense, resource competition, and the future of transatlantic security arrangements.

Trump’s argument rests on Greenland’s geography. The vast, sparsely populated territory, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, sits between North America and Russia at a point where military, commercial, and technological interests increasingly intersect. As ice melt accelerates and great-power rivalry intensifies, the Arctic is shifting from a peripheral theater into a core strategic arena.

The Arctic’s Strategic Geography

Greenland occupies a pivotal position astride the GIUK gap — the naval corridor between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom that links the Arctic Ocean to the North Atlantic. During the Cold War, this chokepoint was essential for tracking Soviet submarines. Today, it remains central to monitoring Russian naval and missile activity, particularly as Moscow modernizes its Arctic capabilities.

The island is also near emerging Arctic shipping routes, including the Northwest Passage and the Transpolar Sea Route. As climate change reduces ice coverage, these lanes could shorten Asia-Europe transit times dramatically compared with traditional routes like the Suez Canal. Control over, or proximity to, these passages carries both commercial and military significance, reinforcing Greenland’s long-term strategic value.

Military Infrastructure and Missile Defense

The United States already maintains a foothold in Greenland through the Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base. The installation plays a key role in early-warning missile detection and space surveillance, based on the reality that the shortest trajectory for Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles toward the continental US passes over the Arctic.

Trump’s renewed focus on Greenland is closely tied to his vision for a “Golden Dome” missile defense system, a nationwide shield designed to intercept next-generation threats. Analysts argue that deploying sensors and interceptors closer to Russia would enhance the system’s effectiveness, and Greenland’s location makes it uniquely suited for that role.

Resources and Strategic Autonomy

Beyond defense, Greenland is rich in untapped natural resources, including hydrocarbons and critical minerals such as rare earth elements. These materials are essential for advanced technologies ranging from electric vehicles to military hardware. With China dominating global rare-earth supply chains, securing alternative sources has become a strategic priority for Washington, blurring the line between national security and economic security.

Sovereignty, Alliances, and Resistance

Trump’s rhetoric has alarmed allies, particularly because Greenland is covered by North Atlantic Treaty Organization collective defense guarantees through Denmark. Danish leaders and Greenlandic officials have stressed that existing defense agreements already grant the US extensive access without challenging sovereignty. Opinion polls consistently show Greenlanders oppose US control, even as many favor eventual independence from Denmark.

The central question is not whether Greenland matters strategically — it clearly does — but whether full political control is necessary to secure US interests. Critics argue that expanding military cooperation and investment within existing frameworks could achieve the same objectives without destabilizing alliances.

As Arctic competition intensifies, Greenland’s importance will only grow. Whether Trump’s push signals a genuine shift in US strategy or a negotiating posture remains uncertain, but it underscores a broader reality: the Arctic is no longer a frozen backwater, but a frontline of 21st-century geopolitics.